COSPLAY
顾名思义，COSPLAY是英文CostumePlay的简略写法，其动词为COS，而玩COSPLAY的人则一般被称为COSPLAYER。从一般意义上来说的COSPLAY最早的中文译名是出自台湾，意思是指“角色扮演”。但因为这种译法与游戏中的RolePlayGame(RPG)同为角色扮演之意，所以为免雷同，笔者更倾向于另一种译法--服饰装扮。以现今的COSPLAY而言，其形式及内容一般是指利用服装、小饰品、道具以及化装来扮演ACG(anime、comic、game)中的角色或是一些日本视觉系乐队以及电影中的某些人物，从这里可以看出在定位上COSPLAY包含了相当广阔的发挥空间，甚至可以说只要是有COSPLAYER在的地方，这一领域便绝对就是当今青少年流行文化的主流。
COSPLAY起源
谈到COSPLAY最初的起源，现在大家一般比较认同的是将COSPLAY的发源地定位于日本，当然如果这是以现时代COSPLAY理念为基准的话确是可以如此而言。但是如果从广义上来说，动画COSPLAY的真正发源地绝对是位于西半球的美国，甚至说如果真要探讨起COSPLAY原始形态的话，笔者可以毫不迟疑的告诉你COSPLAY最早的出现是在公元元年之前的数个世纪之中！因为不论是公元前1000年左右就已存在的希腊祭祀们的装扮，或是其后共同创作了两部伟大希腊史诗《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》的那群活跃于公元前8世纪的伟大游吟诗人们，他（她）们实际上都是在扮演着别人的角色。前者引变为后世的先知、先见，成功的COSPLAY了神之使徒的存在，而后者则如同是现今舞台话剧的鼻祖，出神入化的COSPLAY了那些可歌可泣英雄们的事迹。事实上，COSPLAY所要包括和装扮的涵义不仅仅只是指一种外表上的形象化，更重要的是去COSPLAY人的内心。
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
关于Cosplay
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The MAGe Festa
The MAGe Festa 2008
-Dance Party
Monday, January 21, 2008
Shugo Chara----[Anime Series]
In addition to the regular volumes, the series is being released in limited editions in Japan, each of which include different cover art from the regular editions, metallic foil sleeves, and a set of postcards featuring Amu in various outfits and poses following the color theme of the dust jackets. Shugo Chara! has also been adapted into a 51 episode anime television series of the same title produced by Satelight under the direction of Kenji Yasuda and debuted on October 6, 2007 on TV Tokyo.
Amu Hinamori is a student at Seiyo Elementary, where she has a reputation for being "cool and spicy"; however, her real personality in that of an extremely shy and easily intimidated girl. One night Amu makes a wish that she would have the courage to be reborn as her "would-be" self. The next morning Amu finds three brightly colored eggs—red, blue, and green—in her bed. Each egg eventually hatches into a Guardian Character: Ran, Miki, and Suu. Guardian Characters are angel-like beings that aid a person into becoming their "would-be" selves and fulfill the person's dreams. The Guardian Characters accomplish this by giving encouragement and advice, but they can also temporary changing a person's personality and abilities. With the Guardian Characters, Amu's life becomes much more complex as she now struggles to deal with her new personalities and the Seiyo Elementary Guardians—a student council group where each member has their own Guardian Character—who recruits Amu to search for and seal the X eggs and X Characters, which are the corrupted forms of people's dreams.
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Friday, January 18, 2008
Seto No Hanayome濑户之花嫁----[Anime Series]
Gōzaburō, San's father, however, is enraged about his daughter running off and getting married, especially to a human whom he deems inferior. Between Gōzaburō's attempts on his life and the madcap antics of a whole slew of antagonists — including the daughter of a rival mobster and a rich male transfer student with an attraction for San — Nagasumi is not enjoying a very smooth transition into his new lifestyle.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Nightmare---[Japan Visual-kei Band]
Nightmare or Naitomea (ナイトメア) is a Visual Rock band that was formed in 2000. The original members were Sakito and Hitsugi on guitar, YOMI on vocals, Ni~ya on bass and Zannin on drums, who was the last to join. In the same year, Zannin decided to leave the band, and RUKA from Luinspear replaced him as a temporary drummer. In November 2000 RUKA became an official member. In 2001 they formed their side project band Sendai Kamotsu, which is somewhat of an alter-ego.
In October 2006, they released a double a-side single, the World / Alumina which both are theme songs to the anime version of Death Note.
Following the string of successful singles released in 2007, Nightmare will be releasing a singles collection in January 2008.
Nightmare began in January 2000 by Sakito and Hitsugi while most of the members were still in high school. Soon, Yomi was invited by Sakito, Ni~ya by Hitsugi, and Zannin joined after they heard their classmates were forming a band. They were all influenced by either X/X Japan or LUNA SEA in some form.
Just as the band began getting much recognition at live houses and small concerts in the Sendai region, Zannin left the band for unknown reasons. Eventually, Ruka (formerly Luinspear) joined the band as a support member at first, but became the permanent drummer after a short time. Their line-up hasn't changed since.
Aside from appearing on TV shows, magazine covers, and concerts, they also have a radio program with NACK 5 called "Jack in the Box!". Yomi and Hitsugi usually host the show. However, Sakito, Ni~ya, and Ruka do pop in from time to time with the two.
Recently, RUKA has got his own radio show on TOKYO FM. The show is titled "MUSIC ARK." (Source: Arena 37C: January 2008.)
Along with that, all the members except for Yomi have a monthly column in different music magazines.
++Hitsugi has his in SHOXX magazine titled 猫ふんじゃった (A Cat's Minute). It used to be called "ZOZZY," an inside joke with the members when they were first interviewed in SHOXX back in 2004. Yomi had made a comment saying they should do a whole SHOXX magazine dedicated to Nightmare only. Hitsugi said if they were to do that, they should change the magazine name to "ZOZZY" instead and turn it into a comic magazine.
++Sakito's is in B-PASS magazine titled 鈍行いくの？ ("Local train goes?") and has a free paper column called ディスクガレージ発行フリーペーパー「DI:GA」 ヴィジュアル系だって人間だもの (DISC GARAGE Issue Free Paper "DI:GA" Those Who Are Human in Visual Kei)
++Ni~ya's is in Zy magazine titled "JUST FREAK OUT LET IT GO"
++Ruka's is featured in duet magazine titled 出てる！出てる！ (Coming out! Coming out!).
Members
YOMI-------Vocals
Hitsugi (柩)----- Guitar
Sakito (咲人)----- Guitar
Ni~ya -----Bass
RUKA ---Drums
ex-Members
Zannin -----Drums
Official Website>>>>http://www.nightmare-web.com/
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Type of Punk--[Chinese Version]
Monday, January 7, 2008
Type of Punk
Standard punk
In general, modern punks wear leather, denim, spikes, chains, and combat boots. They often wear elements of early punk fashion, such as kutten vests, bondage pants (often plaid)and torn clothing. There is a large influence by DIY-created and modified clothing, such as ripped or stitched-together pants or shirts. Hair is typically dyed in bright colors such as red, blue, green, pink or orange and arranged into a mohawk or liberty spikes. Hair could also be cut very short or shaved. Belts with metal studs, and bullet belts, are popular. Leather or denim jackets and vests often have patches or are painted with logos that express musical tastes or political views. Pants are usually tapered tightly. Metal spikes or studs are often added to jackets and vests.
Hardcore
There are several styles of dress within the hardcore scene, and styles have changed since the genre started as hardcore punk in the late 1970s. What is fashionable in one branch of the hardcore scene may be frowned upon in another. Clothing styles are often chosen to make moshing easier to perform. Plain working class dress and short hair (with the exception of dreadlocks) are usually associated with hardcore punk. Mute colors and minimal adornment are usually common. Some elements of hardcore clothing are baggy jeans or work pants, athletic wear, cargo or military shorts, band T-shirts, plain T-shirts, and band hoodies. Some hardcore bands and fans wear clothing items that are similar to contemporary or old school hip hop fashion, such as baseball caps, athletic wear and shoes, and clothing by athletic brands such as Nike, Adidas, Pony, and Puma. Personal comfort and the ability to mosh are highly influential in this style (Jewelery, spikes, tight clothes, flashy hair and chains are highly uncommon and discouraged in hardcore fashion.)
Anarcho-Punk
Anarcho-punk fashion is a politicised adaptation of traditional punk fashion. This all black militaristic fashion was pioneered by Crass in the United Kingdom and by T.S.O.L. in the United States. Other common features are the refusal to wear leather[citation needed] and the heavy use of anarchist symbols and slogans. Some whom define themselves as Anarcho-Punks may opt to wear clothing similar to traditionalist punks or crust punks, but not often to the extreme of either subculture[citation needed]. Leather is often replaced with imitation leather or cloth in a similar design as leather products[citation needed].
Crust punk
Crust punk fashion is an extreme evolution of traditional punk fashion, and is heavily influenced by bands such as Doom, Amebix and Antisect. Typical crust punk fashion includes black or camouflage trousers or shorts covered in patches (heavy work pants are popular for their durability), torn band T-shirts or hoodies covered in patches, studded vests and jackets (commonly black denim), bullet belts, jewelry made from hemp and other natural/found objects, and sometimes bum flaps. Patches, even band patches, are often of a political nature. Patches are often screen printed at home by the individual crust punks. Clothing tends to be unwashed and unsanitary by conventional standards, and dreadlocks are popular. Crust punks sometimes sew articles of clothing with found or cheaply-bought materials. Baseball caps with patches sewn on are popular headgear. Pants are often held up with string or hemp.
Gothic rock/Deathrock and Horror punk
Deathrock and Horror punk fashion is similar to goth fashion. Black is the predominant color. Deathrock and horror punk incorporates a sexier image, incorporating fishnets, corsets and elaborate make-up for men and women. The use of occult and horror imagery is prevalent on T-shirts, buttons, patches and jewelery. The Misfits Fiend Skull is a common sight on articles of clothing. Other common adornments include band names painted on jackets or bleached into clothes, as well as buttons or patches indicating cities. The initials D and R (for Death Rock) may part of a crossbone logo, accompanied by other initials, such as C and A for California, N and Y for New York, or G and R for Germany. Hair may be in deathhawk style (a wider teased-out variant of the mohawk hairstyle), an angled bangs style, or in a devilock style. The traditional 80's Gothic Rock gave birth to the teased mohawk, unlike the Punk mohawk which was often fanned or spiked the Goth mohawk which is often referred to as the Death Hawk was slightly wider and teased, often crimped as well.
Skate punk
A skate punk is a skateboarder that listens to punk music. They normally wear small shirts and tight or slim-fit pants. Many wear clothing from companies such as Baker, Emerica, Fallen, and Vans. They also may wear cheap generic clothes, including army surplus clothing. A common element is a trucker flip-up hat with writing or logos of skate crews written on the bill. It is normal for skate punks to wear folded bandanas in their back pockets. Band T-shirts and skateboard company T-shirts or hoodies are common.
Pop punk
Pop punk fashion sometimes overlaps with skater punk fashion and emo fashion. Contemporary pop punk fans often wear items such as band T-shirts with, tie or scarf; blazers; Dickies pants, baggy pants, jeans or shorts; studded belts; Converse All-Stars or skateboarder shoes. Popular patterns include check and arms. Hair is usually long for women, and short and spiky for men — and is sometimes dyed black, platinum blonde, or natural hair colors with unnatural streaks.
Obscure trends
Some punks dress similarly to the droogs in the film A Clockwork Orange. This involves white boiler suits, bowler hats, black Dr. Martens or combat boots, suspenders and sometimes black eye makeup (on one eye only). This look has been displayed by bands such as The Adicts and Lower Class Brats, The Violators and Major Accident. An item associated with the Suicidals scene (influenced by the California band Suicidal Tendencies) is a baseball cap or trucker hat with the bill upturned, and with text written or painted on it. Suicidals (and some individuals in the later hardcore scene) also wear other styles associated with the Cholo gang member look. This involves bandanas on one's head, Converse sneakers and plaid flannel shirts. This style sometimes includes a shaven head.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
DiGi Chara---[Cosplay]
Di Gi Charat (デ・ジ･キャラット, De・Ji・Kyaratto) is a Japanese anime and manga series created by Koge-Donbo. The series follows a catgirl named Di Gi Charat (Dejiko for short) who was adopted as the mascot of Broccoli's retail chain store, Gamers. The original anime series and its original video animations (OVAs) are set in a Gamers store. There are twenty Gamers stores across Japan. Gamers opened a store in the United States in 2001, Anime Gamers, that is located in Los Angeles.
Several specials, OVAs, and movies have been adapted as prequels, sequels and alternate stories. Trading cards and video games are among the many forms of merchandise released for the series.
The original series, movie, and Leave it Piyoko is licensed in North America by Synch-Point. The manga series is licensed by several companies.
History
The characters of Di Gi Charat and her sidekick Gema first appeared in July 1998 in From Gamers, a promotional magazine for the Akihabara store, Gamers. In August of that year, the two appeared in Gema Gema, a four-panel comic-strip in From Gamers drawn by dōjin artist Koge-Donbo. Dejiko was later adopted as the mascot of Gamers. An animated Dejiko and her sidekick Gema first appeared on in a television advertisement for Gamers, set to the store's theme song, Welcome! by Hiroko Kato. Dejiko soon starred in her own animated series. Further characters gradually appeared in Gema Gema, and were later included in each of the anime series.
Official Website>>http://www.broccoli.co.jp/dejiko/
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Sola----[Anime Series]
Sola is a Japanese work originally conceived by Naoki Hisaya (main writer of Kanon) with original character design by Naru Nanao (designer of D.C. ～Da Capo～).Sola is a mixed media project, first unveiled through the prologue of the manga featured in the Japanese manga magazine Dengeki Daioh on December 21, 2006, published by MediaWorks. The manga, which is illustrated by Chako Abeno, ended serialization on February 21, 2008. The manga has been licensed for distribution in North America by Broccoli Books with the first volume being released in June 2008. A short drama CD which also served as a prologue to the series was released at Comiket 71 on December 31, 2006, and another longer drama CD was later released in August 2007; a second drama CD will be released in May 2008. An anime version aired in Japan between April 7, 2007 and June 30, 2007; the anime contained thirteen episodes, and two additional DVD-exclusive episodes followed. The anime has been licensed by Bandai Visual for distribution in North America with the first DVD being released in June 2008. The title, Sola, comes from the feminine form of the Italian/Spanish word solo (lit. alone). The title is also homophonic to the Japanese word sora (空, sora lit. sky). At the end of 2007, Japanese anime fans voted Sola as the best anime of the year.
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The Japanese DVDs were also released by .Anime as a "special package edition" with different cover art released for the limited or regular edition volumes. The covers of the special package and limited edition volumes were illustrated by Naru Nanao, the original character designer for Sola; the covers of the regular edition volumes had illustrations of the anime-style art by Makoto Koga.Each of the regular edition DVDs contained an eight-page color booklet with illustrations from the series. The special package and limited edition DVDs also contained the color booklet, along with drama CDs containing tracks from the Internet radio show, and poster cards (the first volume also contained a poster card holder). The price of the special package and limited edition DVDs retailed for 8,190 yen (about US$72), and the regular edition DVDs retailed for 6,090 yen (about US$54); both prices are after tax.
Bandai Visual licensed the Sola anime for release in North America and plan to release the first DVD volume on June 10, 2008.
